We are faced with the issues of life daily. All we must do is turn on the television and we are faced with violence, from armed robberies to home invasions to gang violence and violence in our schools. If we do not turn on the television, we are still faced with our own personal struggles. We may be faced with unemployment or underemployment. Homelessness, or facing foreclosure or eviction. We may be faced with failing health or concern about family or friends who are facing the situations I’ve just described.
What we must come to realize, remember, and remain
steadfast on, is the knowledge that God is greater than everything we may face.
We read in Psalm 34:19 Many are the afflictions of the
righteous: but the Lord delivereth him out of them all.
God does not promise we will not face or be impacted by the
trials and tribulations of this world, but He does promise He will deliver us
from them all.
As difficult as it may be to execute, God does not want us
to be stressed, worried, or overwhelmed by the issues of life. He tells us in 1
Peter 5:7 Casting all your care upon him; for He careth for you. Easier said than
done you may say, and you are correct if you are trying this on your own. John
5:30 I can of mine own self do nothing. God wants us to
be completely dependent upon Him. Proverbs 3: 4-6 Trust in
the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own
understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.
When we are bogged down with the issues of life, it becomes
difficult for us to focus on our purpose, or God’s purpose for our lives. We
become distracted. Rather than looking at God, we look at what is going on
around us. I’m reminded of Peter’s actions in Matthew 14:30. But when he saw
the wind boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink, he cried, saying,
Lord, save me. As long as Peter’s eyes were fixed on Jesus, he was not concerned
about the violent winds tossing the water to and fro. Was Peter aware of the
winds? Of course, he was. Verse 24 But the ship was now in the midst of the
sea, tossed with waves: for the wind was contrary.
Just as Peter and all who were on the ship with him were
aware of the waves and strong wind, we too are aware of the turmoil that
sometimes surrounds us. It is important our eyes are fixed on Jesus, as Peters
eyes were fixed on Jesus. It is when we waver and our gaze moves from Jesus to
our circumstances that we begin to sink into distress, worry and anxiety as
Peter began to sink into the sea.
Oftentimes we allow our emotions to rule us. We allow what
we feel to control our state of mind and our actions.
We read in 1 Peter 5:7 Casting all your care upon him; for
he careth for you. God does not want us to be worried or stressed. He wants us
to give Him everything that concerns us. Does He know our state of mind and
what’s on our mind? Of course, He does, but when we speak to God and tell Him
we are turning whatever it is over to Him, we are saying God, I cannot handle
whatever it is. We are saying to Him, Lord, I trust you to take care of it.
Trust is the operative word. God wants us to put our Trust solely in Him.
We are not equipped to carry our own cares. If we were, God
would not tell us to give them to Him. When we hold onto our cares our emotions
take over. We begin thinking with our carnal mind rather than with the mind of
the spirit.
As we continue reading verse 8 of 1 Peter chapter 5, we read be sober, be
vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about,
seeking whom he may devour:
Thinking with the carnal mind invites the adversary in. Our
mind, by use of the fiery darts the enemy is sending our way begins to have
thoughts that are contrary to the word of God. Thoughts of worry and doubt.
Remove the emotion. Keep your focus on God. He is greater
than anything you will face in life.
